Our People

Our expert team is ready to jump in and start delivering results immediately.

Jay Proffitt, Founder and CEO

  • Jay Proffitt is a highly accomplished financial services management executive with over 27 years of domestic and international experience in the fintech and financial services sectors. He is the CEO and Founder of GiGCXOs, a boutique consulting firm specializing in compliance, operations, and technology solutions for broker-dealers and investment advisers for traditional securities and digital assets/securities.

    Before founding GiGCXOs, Jay was the SVP/COO of Alto Securities and Trust. Responsible for all aspects of Alto’s SaaS and customer operations, which included a broker-dealer, New Mexico State charter trust, and an exempt reporting advisor. Alto managed $1.1 billion in alternative assets under custody with over 40,000 individual investors. 

    Jay was CEO of MMM Securities LLC, where he was pivotal in a change in membership application for ThinkTankTwo Securities whereby it was acquired by Monark Markets, Inc.  Upon acquisition the name was changed to MMM Securities LLC, and he oversaw the change in business by adding an Alternative Trading System (ATS) and mutual fund retailer business lines.  He established robust compliance and operational frameworks for the broker-dealer. 

    Jay was the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Operating Officer at Securitize Markets, a leading digital asset securities firm that leverages blockchain technology to democratize investor access to alternative investments. During his tenure, he successfully expanded the firm's alternative trading system (ATS) offerings and enhanced its digital securities platform, supporting over 3,000 businesses and 1.3 million shareholders.

    Jay held numerous senior leadership and executive roles in his career, notably at Charles Schwab Inc., where he spent 12 years shaping the company's retail product management and operational strategies. As a Schwab executive, he oversaw the development and management of advanced trading software applications that generated hundreds of millions in annual trade revenue through multiple channels, including web, mobile, API, and desktop platforms. He led the successful integration of optionsXpress, a $1 billion corporate acquisition.

    During his tenure at Penson Financial Services, Jay held several key executive roles that significantly contributed to the company's operational efficiency and market expansion. Penson Financial Services, now known as Apex Clearing, was a major player in clearing and execution services for domestic and international broker-dealers and institutional clients. In his role as Co-CEO of Penson Financial Services Ltd. in London, Jay led the operations, product management, and technology teams, overseeing the day-to-day activities. His leadership was critical in expanding Penson's presence in the European market and establishing a solid operational framework for the firm's global activities.

    Jay holds an MBA from Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business and a BBA in Finance from the University of Houston's C.T. Bauer College of Business. His professional credentials include numerous FINRA licenses, such as Series 3, 4, 7, 24, 57, 63, 99, and the SIE.

Steve Maiello, Senior Independent Consultant

  • Steve Maiello is a seasoned compliance professional with over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has a proven track record of guiding firms through the complexities of regulatory requirements and ensuring compliance excellence. His specialized areas of expertise include Communications with the Public (Ad Review), annual CEO certification preparation (FINRA 3130), Annual Compliance Meeting creation, and developing and reviewing written supervisory procedures.

    Steve has held significant roles throughout his career, including his tenure as Director of Marketing Compliance at Lime Trading Corp, where he provided crucial compliance oversight and developed firm-wide policies and procedures. He also spent over 20 years at Charles Schwab, where he advanced to the position of Director of Digital Services Compliance. In this role, he supported Schwab's digital services platforms, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards across a wide range of innovative products and services. His expertise extends to social media compliance, where he served as a subject matter expert, advising on strategies, policies, and procedures to align with regulatory requirements.

    In 2024, Steve decided to become an independent consultant. He leverages his deep industry experience and regulatory knowledge to help firms enhance operational efficiency, manage compliance responsibilities, and navigate the increasingly stringent regulatory landscape. His services include developing tailored compliance programs, conducting compliance audits, training, cybersecurity risk assessments, and keeping clients updated on regulatory changes.

    Steve holds multiple certifications, including Series 4, Series 7, Series 24, Series 53, and Series 63, and is committed to helping firms uphold their regulatory obligations and achieve compliance success. Based in Austin, Texas, Steve balances his professional life with a passion for golf and spending quality time with his family.

Steve Manning, Senior Independent Consultant

  • Steven Manning is an accomplished financial services professional with over 17 years of experience specializing in customer service, compliance, operational risk management, and equity and derivatives trading. He is currently a consultant at GiGCXOs, where he provides expert consulting and advisory services. Throughout his career, Steve has demonstrated extensive expertise in client services, policy writing and review, monitoring, program management, training, and risk metrics. His vast background allows him to provide strategic guidance to organizations navigating complex regulatory landscapes and enhancing their operational risk management frameworks.

    At optionsXpress, a start-up broker-dealer and futures commission merchant (FCM), later acquired by Charles Schwab Corporation, Steve was responsible for interviewing, building and supervising a 12-member team of licensed representatives.

    Later at Schwab, Steve shifted his focus to risk management and compliance where he led the design and oversight of a brand-new enterprise-wide compliance program related to the Volcker Rule. He created, reviewed, and updated enterprise-wide policies and procedures. In addition to instituting the monitoring assessment of structured products, treasury investments, fixed income trading, and the strategic investment portfolio, Steve evaluated Alternative Investments to determine their eligibility for custody and provided oversight in the launch of new Schwab-branded ETFs and mutual funds to the market. He offered compliance support to mutual fund operations, assisted with various written supervisory procedures (WSPs), and collaborated with business units and compliance subject matter experts to develop and monitor compliance risk metrics and key risk indicators related to operations, which were reported to the CCO and relevant compliance risk committees. He led compliance in initiatives such as the successful buildout of the derivatives hedging program of the Schwab banks’ portfolios by partnering with the first line to ensure appropriate policies and procedures and monitoring were in place. 

    Prior roles include his significant experience in operations at a Futures Commission Merchant, managing outtrades, give-ups, and allocations. As a proprietary trader, he traded futures in interest rates, equities, and energy. Steve also served as a market-maker for over 100 NASDAQ stocks at E*Trade.

    Steve holds an MBA with Distinction from the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University and a BA in History from Tulane University. His professional certifications include FINRA Series 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 24, 52, and 63.

Why Choose GiGCXOs?

    • We believe in a personalized approach, ensuring that our services are tailored to your specific needs and goals.

    • Our consultants have a proven track record of helping clients successfully overcome regulatory hurdles. We have over 60 years of financial services experience, which includes traditional and digital securities.

    • Our approach to business and regulatory requirements is based on integrity. We will guide you and protect your company from the nuisances of regulatory oversight.

    • Tap our expansive network for finding platforms, and services needed for your broker-dealer or adviser.

    • Consider us an extension of your team, offering strategic guidance and support every step of the way.